The increase is partly due to high building of ships and platforms. On a month to month basis, from August to September, output was more or less unchanged.

The index level for Norwegian manufacturing in the third quarter of 2018 amounted to 116 (2005=100). The corresponding figure for the previous quarter was 115.3.

According to seasonally-adjusted figures, manufacturing output saw an increase of 0.6 percent in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the previous quarter.

The growth was particularly related to high activity within ships, boats and oil platforms, as well as in the industry grouping refined petroleum, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

The former saw a strong growth of 6.2 percent mainly due to high activity within ship building, however platform building also made a positive contribution. The analytical grouping petroleum-related manufacturing saw an overall increase of 1.1 percent from the second to the third quarter of 2018.

For the industry grouping refined petroleum, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, the growth in the third quarter was partly related to a high output of pharmaceutical products. On the other hand, the overall output increase was dampened by a production decline in food products. This decrease is related to low production of meat and meat products.

According to seasonally-adjusted figures, manufacturing output had a minor decrease of 0.3 percent from August to September 2018. Food products saw a clear output fall in this period, and contributed the most to the overall decline. On the other hand, ships, boats and oil platforms as well as the industry grouping refined petroleum, chemicals and pharmaceuticals had an output increase.

Estimated figures from Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, indicate that output in manufacturing in the Euro area increased by 0.9 percent from July to August 2018. In the same period, Norwegian manufacturing output was more or less unchanged with a minor decrease of 0.2 percent.

In two of our neighbouring countries, Sweden and Denmark, the development in manufacturing output pointed in somewhat different directions from July to August 2018. Sweden saw a moderate increase of 0.6 percent, while Denmark had an output fall of 1.2 percent. ■